Patriots owner still believes team can compete in brutal AFC East

Two losing seasons in three years is uncharted territory for the New England Patriots, but despite that decline owner Robert Kraft is still optimistic about his team's chances in an extremely tough AFC East for the 2023 season.

"I liked our draft this year, and I hope that translates on the field," Kraft said Thursday, via NFL.com. "I know the guys are working very hard. I think we have the most difficult division in the NFL, the best balance of teams. All the other three teams are good. So we'll have our challenges. But I'm really hopeful about this team."

After being the class of the NFL for more than two decades under the duo of head coach Bill Belichick and Brady, the Patriots have gone just 25-24 in the three years since the latter's departure, only appearing in one playoff game that ended in a humiliating 47-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. 

The Patriots' problem comes down to two major issues. 

The first is a division that was once full of laughingstocks and is now potentially the toughest in the NFL.

Buffalo has been a legitimate Super Bowl contender for three years now, while the Miami Dolphins have rapidly emerged as a contender of their own. The New York Jets also have reason for optimism this season with a great young defense, promising skill position players on offense and the arrival of Aaron Rodgers to hopefully solve the team's quarterback issue. 

Where the Patriots used to be able to pile up five or six automatic wins against NFL bottom-feeders within the division, they are now finding a Super Bowl contender every week. 

The other problem is the Patriots' roster has simply regressed aside from the departure of Brady.

The drafts have not been as fruitful in recent years, Mac Jones is -- on paper -- the worst quarterback in the division, and there is nothing that the Patriots do particularly well. 

It is understandable for Kraft to want to be optimistic about his team. But that roster in that division might provide one of the longest seasons the Patriots and their fans have experienced in decades.